Conditioning Rope with Exchange Handle

ABSTRACT

An exchangeable handle system for use with a conditioning rope comprises a conditioning rope, handle connector and a handle attachment. In accordance therewith, the handle attachment may be interchanged and/or replaced on the handle connector by a user thereof.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/280,239 entitled “Conditioning Rope with Exchange Handle,” filed Jan.19, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to conditioning ropes (alsoknown as battling or battle ropes) of the type that are used for upperbody and cardio workouts. More specifically, the present disclosurerelates to changeable or adjustable handles for use in connectiontherewith.

BACKGROUND

Conditioning, battling or battle ropes have long been known to be usefulfor upper body workouts and also to provide cardio training. Such ropesare known for their ability to help develop lean muscle mass and areuseful for working arms independently, thereby helping to eliminatestrength imbalances.

The use of battle ropes has only recently become prevalent in thefitness industry and have become very popular. However, they do sufferfrom some drawbacks. In particular, existing conditioning/battle ropestypically come only with molded rubber handles or permanently attachedmetal or metal/rubber handles. Such existing handles limit the utilityof such conditioning ropes and do not allow for the versatility that maybe achieved by having handles that may be removed and changed to providedifferent utility/exercises. This means the user is limited to one typeof grip on the rope. In turn, this limits the type of exercises one canperform using the conditioning rope. Accordingly, it would be useful tohave a system and apparatus that allows handles and accessories onconditioning ropes that can be relatively easily changed and/orreplaced.

SUMMARY

In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, a system and apparatus isprovided that allows for the exchanging of handles on conditioningropes. More specifically, aspects of the present disclosure provide asystem and apparatus that allow a user to interchange grips and otherexercise devices on conditioning ropes to improve and add to theirworkout. Additional aspects of the exchangeable/interchangeable handlesin accordance with the disclosure is the ability to replace damagedand/or worn handles easily and quickly. Other aspects of the advantagesand features of the system and apparatus disclosed herein will beapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the description,drawings and appended claims herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a conditioning rope including anexchangeable handle apparatus in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the conditioning rope of FIG. 1including an alternate exchangeable handle apparatus in accordance withaspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the use ofmultiple conditioning ropes with an exchangeable bar apparatus inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of an alternate embodiment of anexchange apparatus for use in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is generally related to fitness equipment andspecifically related to an exchangeable handle/accessory apparatus foruse in connection with fitness conditioning or “battle” ropes. Suchropes are distinguishable from other ropes, cords, cables, etc. used inthe fitness industry for other purposes. Specifically, conditioningropes are distinguishable from elastic-type resistance bands and/orcables that are used on fitness machines to operate them.

More specifically, conditioning ropes typically comprise a braided ropeof at least approximately 1 inch in diameter and can be up to 2.5-3inches in diameter or greater. Ropes of this type generally weighbetween approximately 4 oz a foot to 16 oz a foot or more. Ropes of thistype generally exhibit very little resiliency and/or elasticity. Giventheir size and lack of resiliency, they are generally not comparable toresistance bands, jump ropes and/or cables/cords used with fitnessmachines. They are much heavier than those aforementioneddistinguishable ropes/cords/cables/bands. Specifically, it is the weightof the rope itself which provides the fitness aspect of the rope.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4 herein, the conditioning rope 10 is generallycomprised of separate braids 12, 14. The conditioning rope 10 isgenerally at least 1 inch in diameter, but can be significantly greaterthan that, including about 2.5-3.0 inches in diameter or greater.Conditioning rope 10 is generally at least 10 feet in length but can be20 feet or 30 feet in length (or longer). The conditioning rope 10 mayinclude a handle connector 20 attached to an end thereof, the connector20 may include a connecting means comprising, for example, externalthreads 22 or, as seen in FIG. 4, bore holes 24 for receiving acorresponding connection pin (not shown).

The handle connector 20 may be secured to the conditioning rope 10 inany known manner including a screw 26 or bolt that extends through anend of the rope 10. Alternatively, the handle connector may be crimpedor glued to the end of the rope 10. The handle connector 20 ispreferably comprised so as to hold a handle attachment 30 securely onthe rope 10 but be relatively easy to change/replace. As discussedherein, while threaded and/or connection pin/pushpin methods may be usedin accordance with the disclosure, other methods and apparatuses thatwould be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art areconsidered within the scope of the disclosure. Specifically, a snapfunction, latch apparatus, or turn and lock arrangement would providethe necessary utility as well.

In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, the handle attachment 30can be any of a multitude of designs. As shown in FIG. 1, the attachment30 may be a knob or gripping ball. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2, itmay be a straight handle, or, as shown in FIG. 3, it may comprise a baror stick. The handle attachment 30 may include a bore or opening thereinhaving internal threads shaped to engage corresponding threads on thehandle connector 20.

In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, the handle connector 20and handle attachments 30 can be made in any material. Also, the handleconnector 20 can attach to the end of the rope 10 in any way. Inaddition to the handle connector 20, the handle attachments 30 can bemade in any shape such as cylindrical handle, ball or stick.

The handle exchange system disclosed herein may be used as follows.Following attachment of the handle connector 20 onto the end of the rope10, the user may select the desired handle attachment 30 to attach tothe handle connector 20. If the handle 30 needs to be changed, eitherdue to a desired different workout or failure of the handle 30, the usercan simply detach the handle attachment 30 from the handle connector 20and replace it with another handle attachment 30.

In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, the handle exchange systemmay be fabricated in any known manner as would be apparent to a personof ordinary skill in the art. More specifically, the conditioning rope10 may be fabricated with threading or other rope material. The handleconnector 20 and handle attachments 30 may be molded, pressed, welded,etc. depending on the materials used and the methods for fabricating thesame.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing description provides examplesof the disclosed apparatus and method. However, it is contemplated thatother implementations of the disclosure may differ in detail from theforegoing examples. All references to the disclosure or examples thereofare intended to reference the particular example being discussed at thatpoint and are not intended to imply any limitation as to the scope ofthe disclosure more generally. All language of distinction anddisparagement with respect to certain functions is intended to indicatea lack of preference for those functions, but not to exclude such fromthe scope of the disclosure entirely unless otherwise indicated. Allmethods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

I claim:
 1. A fitness apparatus comprising: a conditioning rope havingan end; a handle connector attached to the end of the conditioning rope;and a handle attachment shaped to be removably attached to the handleconnector.
 2. The fitness apparatus of claim 1 wherein said handleconnector includes threads thereon.
 3. The fitness apparatus of claim 2wherein said handle attachment includes a bore therein shaped to receivea portion of the handle connector therein.
 4. The fitness apparatus ofclaim 3 wherein said handle attachment includes threads in the borecorresponding to the threads on the handle connector.
 5. The fitnessapparatus of claim 4 wherein the conditioning rope has a diameter of atleast about one inch or greater.
 6. The fitness apparatus of claim 1wherein the conditioning rope has a diameter of at least about one inchor greater.
 7. The fitness apparatus of claim 4 wherein the conditioningrope weighs at least about four ounces per foot of length.
 8. Thefitness apparatus of claim 1 wherein the conditioning rope weighs atleast about four ounces per foot of length.
 9. The fitness apparatus ofclaim 4 wherein the conditioning rope is at least about ten feet inlength.
 10. The fitness apparatus of claim 1 wherein the conditioningrope is at least about ten feet in length.
 11. The fitness apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the conditioning rope is a braided rope having at leasttwo separate braids.
 12. The fitness apparatus of claim 4 wherein theconditioning rope is a braided rope having at least two separate braids.13. The fitness apparatus of claim 1 wherein the handle attachment isremovably attached to the handle connector via snap apparatus, latchapparatus, or turn and lock apparatus.
 14. The fitness apparatus ofclaim wherein the handle attachment may be shaped as a bar, knob, orgripping handle.
 15. A fitness apparatus comprising: at least twoconditioning ropes, each rope having an end; at least two handleconnectors attached to the ends of the conditioning ropes; and a barhaving at least two attachment mechanisms shaped to be removablyattached to the handle connectors.
 16. The fitness apparatus of claim 15wherein said handle connectors include threads thereon.
 17. The fitnessapparatus of claim 16 wherein said handle attachment mechanisms eachinclude a bore therein with threads in the bore shaped to removablyattach to corresponding threads on the handle connectors.
 18. Thefitness apparatus of claim 15 wherein the conditioning ropes have adiameter of at least about one inch or greater.
 19. The fitnessapparatus of claim 15 wherein the conditioning ropes weigh at leastabout four ounces per foot of length.
 20. A fitness apparatuscomprising: a braided conditioning rope at least one inch in diameter,ten feet in length, and weighing at least eighty ounces; a handleconnector attached to the end of the conditioning rope, the handleconnector having threads on a portion thereof; a handle attachmentshaped to be removably attached to the handle connector, the handleattachment having a bore therein and including threads in the boreshaped to removably attach to the corresponding threads on the handleconnector.